U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service to Host Public Meetings Regarding Conservation Efforts with Willing Landowners along the Missouri River in Northeast Nebraska and Southeast South Dakota

Public Scoping Comments Regarding This Conservation Effort Will Be Accepted Until

March 12, 2012

Sundown on the Missour River River Photo Credit: National Park Service

To increase conservation efforts and recreational opportunities along the Missouri River, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to work in partnership with willing landowners and local communities.

Efforts will be focused upon the Missouri River between Ft. Randall Dam to the Running Water Bridge and upstream the Niobrara River to the Spencer Dam. This area is referred to as the Niobrara Confluence. The other area, called the Ponca Bluffs, is centered on the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam to Sioux City, Iowa.

The FWS and NPS will work with local communities and willing landowners to conserve stretches of the Missouri River that have significant natural resource, recreational, or cultural value. The opportunity to preserve, and even improve, important natural river processes and habitats for fish and wildlife would benefit the visitors, neighbors, and local communities of the Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs areas, now and into the future. Through a combination of actions along a spectrum from restoration efforts, conservation easements, or land acquisition, the unique nature of the Missouri River would be maintained and in some cases, restored to its former glory. These efforts would not result in increased regulations or alter dam operations; but provide for increased wildlife habitats, protection of culturally and historically important sites, and improved recreational access.
Individual or group representatives may visit the project website (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/niob-ponca) to learn more or to provide comments. The FWS and NPS will gather public input as part of public scoping during the month of February. Public scoping comments will be accepted until March 12, 2012. Received public comments will be considered by the NPS and FWS during development of a Land Protection Plan. There will be another opportunity to comment on the draft Land Protection Plan in the fall of 2012.
Public meetings regarding the proposal will begin with an open house at 5:30 p.m. local time where individuals can meet one-on-one with the FWS and NPS staff; followed by a short presentation at 6:30 p.m. with time for additional discussion afterwards. The meetings will be at the following dates and locations:Tuesday, February 21, 20125:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
The Outdoor Campus
4500 S. Oxbow Ave.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota